Your Facebook post is sitting there, looking good, but nobody’s sharing it. Frustrating, right? You spent time crafting the message, maybe even added an image or video, and crickets. The truth is, making a Facebook post shareable isn’t complicated—but most people don’t know the actual mechanics behind it. This guide walks you through exactly how to make Facebook post shareable so your content reaches beyond your immediate followers and actually spreads across the platform.
Think of shareability like building a ramp instead of a wall. If your post has friction, people won’t bother. Remove the friction, and sharing becomes natural. We’re talking about the technical setup, the content strategy, and the platform settings that actually matter.
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Enable Sharing on Your Facebook Post
This is the foundation. You can’t make a Facebook post shareable if you’ve accidentally locked it down. When you create a post, Facebook gives you privacy controls. Most people set these to “Public” and call it a day, but there’s more nuance here.
Here’s the real talk: if your post is set to “Friends Only” or “Private,” nobody outside that circle can share it. Ever. It’s like putting your content in a locked room and wondering why nobody’s talking about it.
To enable sharing on a new post:
- Click the privacy dropdown (it shows a globe icon or lock icon)
- Select Public – this is the baseline for shareability
- If you’re posting to a Facebook Page (not your personal profile), make sure the page itself isn’t restricted. Go to Settings > General > Page Visibility
- Confirm the page is set to Visible (not hidden)
For existing posts that aren’t getting shared, you can edit the privacy settings. Click the three dots on the post, select Edit Privacy, and switch to Public if it’s currently restricted.
Pro Tip: If you’re running a business or community page, Public posts also get indexed by search engines, which means your content can drive traffic from Google, not just Facebook. That’s a win beyond just shareability.
Now, here’s where people get confused. Making a post Public doesn’t automatically make it shareable—it just removes the permission barrier. The actual shareability depends on what you’re sharing and how it’s formatted.
Set Up Your Link Preview Correctly
When you share a link on Facebook, the platform pulls data from that webpage to create a preview card. This preview is huge for shareability. A broken or ugly preview kills momentum.
The preview includes:
- The headline (pulled from the page’s title tag)
- Description (from the meta description)
- Image (from Open Graph tags or the first image on the page)
- The URL itself
If any of these look bad, people won’t share it. They’ll think twice before putting their name on it.
To test and fix your link preview:
- Copy the URL you want to share
- Go to Facebook’s Sharing Debugger
- Paste the URL and click Debug
- Look at the preview that appears. Is the image showing? Is the headline compelling? Is the description accurate?
- If something looks wrong, you’ll see warnings or errors. Fix those on your website’s backend (usually by updating Open Graph meta tags)
Here’s a common scenario: you’re sharing a blog post, but Facebook is pulling the wrong image—maybe a logo or footer graphic instead of your featured image. The Sharing Debugger shows you exactly what’s happening. Then you (or your web developer) can add proper Open Graph tags to the page.
The headline and description matter because they’re what people see before deciding to share. If the preview looks professional and relevant, sharing becomes a no-brainer.
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Content That People Actually Want to Share
Technical setup only gets you so far. The real secret to how to make Facebook post shareable is creating content people want to share in the first place.
What gets shared? Content that makes people look good, feel something, or solve a problem. That’s it. Nobody shares boring announcements unless they have to.
Here are the types of content that naturally get shared:
- How-to posts and tutorials – People share these because they want to help others. “Here’s how to fix that leaky faucet” is inherently shareable.
- Emotional content – Inspiring stories, funny moments, or relatable struggles get shared because people want others to feel what they felt.
- Controversial or opinion-based posts – These spark conversation. People share them to start debates or get validation. (Use caution here—make sure it aligns with your brand.)
- Timely or trending content – Posts tied to current events, seasons, or cultural moments feel relevant and urgent.
- Visual content – Posts with high-quality images or videos get shared 10x more than text-only posts. The brain processes images faster, and people want to share something visually interesting.
- Listicles and quick tips – “5 Ways to…” or “10 Things You Didn’t Know…” are easy to consume and share.
Real example: A plumbing company posting “Emergency tips if your pipes freeze” gets shared during winter because people see it as genuinely helpful. A post saying “We’re open on Saturday” doesn’t get shared because it’s just an announcement.
The difference? One solves a problem. The other doesn’t.
When you’re writing your post, ask yourself: Why would someone share this? If you can’t answer that question, the post probably won’t get shared no matter how many technical tweaks you make.
Use Open Graph Tags for Maximum Impact
Open Graph tags are HTML code that tells Facebook (and other platforms) exactly what to display when your content is shared. Without them, Facebook guesses—and it often guesses wrong.
The main Open Graph tags you need:
og:title– The headline that appears in the previewog:description– The description textog:image– The image that shows in the preview (use 1200x630px for best results)og:url– The canonical URL of the pageog:type– The type of content (article, website, video, etc.)
These tags live in the <head> section of your webpage. If you’re using WordPress, plugins like Yoast SEO handle this automatically. If you’re coding from scratch, you’ll add them manually.
Here’s a real example of what Open Graph tags look like:
<meta property="og:title" content="How to Fix a Leaky Faucet in 10 Minutes"><meta property="og:description" content="Step-by-step guide to fixing that annoying drip without calling a plumber."><meta property="og:image" content="https://yoursite.com/images/faucet-fix.jpg">
Why does this matter for shareability? When someone shares your content, Facebook pulls these tags to create the preview. A compelling title and image in that preview dramatically increases the chance someone else will click and share it further.
Safety Warning: Make sure your og:image URL is HTTPS (not HTTP). Facebook won’t display images from unsecure URLs, and your preview will look broken. That kills shareability instantly.
Test your tags using the Facebook Sharing Debugger mentioned earlier. If they’re set up correctly, you’ll see a clean preview. If not, you’ll see warnings telling you exactly what’s missing.
Timing and Distribution Matter
Even the best content won’t get shared if nobody sees it in the first place. This is where timing and distribution come into play.
Facebook’s algorithm prioritizes content that gets early engagement. If your post sits for two hours without likes or comments, it gets shown to fewer people. But if it gets engagement in the first 30 minutes, the algorithm pushes it to more feeds.
Here’s the practical strategy:
- Post when your audience is active – Check your Facebook Insights to see when your followers are online. Post 30-60 minutes before peak activity, so the post is fresh when people arrive.
- Encourage early engagement – Ask a question in the caption. “What’s your biggest pain point with this?” gets people commenting, which signals to Facebook that the post is worth showing.
- Distribute across channels – Share your Facebook post link in emails, on your website, in other social media platforms, and in relevant online communities. Each share brings more people to the post, which boosts its visibility on Facebook itself.
- Pin important posts – If you’re posting from a Page, pin the post to the top of your timeline for 7 days. This ensures new visitors see your best content first.
Think of it like this: a great post that nobody sees won’t get shared. But a good post that’s in front of the right people at the right time will spread naturally.
Also, consider sharing the same post multiple times (on different days or at different times). Facebook doesn’t penalize you for this, and different segments of your audience will see it. Just don’t spam the same post five times in one day—that looks desperate and tanks engagement.
Facebook Page Settings That Unlock Shareability
If you’re posting from a Facebook Page (not a personal profile), certain page settings directly affect how shareable your content is.
First, make sure your page is complete. A page with missing information (no profile picture, no “About” section, no website link) looks unprofessional and makes people less likely to share. People want to associate themselves with credible sources.
Here’s the checklist:
- Profile picture and cover photo – Use high-quality images that represent your brand or business. This is the first impression.
- About section – Write a clear, concise description of what your page is about. Include keywords naturally (this helps with discoverability).
- Website link – If you have a website, link it. This gives people a reason to trust you.
- Contact information – Phone number, email, or contact form. Transparency builds trust, which builds shareability.
- Category – Pick the right category so people understand what your page is about at a glance.
Next, enable all the features that encourage sharing:
- Comments – Make sure commenting is enabled on your posts. Posts with comments get shared more because they spark conversation.
- Reactions – Keep reactions enabled (like, love, haha, wow, sad, angry). More reaction options = more engagement = more shareability.
- Sharing – This should be on by default, but double-check under Settings > General > Page Visibility that sharing is enabled.
If you’re managing multiple admins on your page, you might want to review how to add admin to Facebook page to ensure the right people have posting permissions. Consistency in posting quality matters for shareability.
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Track Who’s Sharing Your Posts
You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Facebook gives you tools to see how many times your posts are being shared.
In Facebook Insights:
- Go to your Page and click Insights (top menu)
- Click Posts in the left sidebar
- Look at the table of your recent posts. There’s a Shares column showing how many times each post was shared
- Click on individual posts to see more details, including who shared it and where
Pay attention to which posts get the most shares. Look for patterns. Is it certain topics? Certain formats (video vs. image vs. text)? Certain times of day?
Once you identify what works, do more of it. If your how-to posts get 5x more shares than promotional posts, shift your content strategy toward more how-tos.
You can also use how to find Facebook URL for specific posts and track them across different platforms. Some people use URL shorteners like Bit.ly to track shares outside of Facebook too, though Facebook’s built-in analytics are usually sufficient.
One more thing: if you’re on Instagram, the sharing mechanics are slightly different. Check out how to see who shared your Instagram post if you’re cross-posting content.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why isn’t my Facebook post shareable even though it’s set to Public?
– Public privacy settings remove the permission barrier, but shareability depends on content quality, link preview setup, and audience interest. Check that your link preview looks good using Facebook’s Sharing Debugger. If you’re sharing a link, make sure the og:image and og:title tags are set correctly. If it’s a text or image post, ask yourself if the content is actually worth sharing—does it solve a problem, inspire, or entertain?
Does the number of likes and comments affect how many shares a post gets?
– Yes, indirectly. Posts with early engagement get shown to more people, which increases the likelihood of shares. But a post with 100 likes and 0 shares means the content resonates emotionally but isn’t compelling enough to share. Focus on content that makes people want to tell others about it, not just react to it.
Can I force people to share my Facebook post?
– No, and trying to (like “Share this for good luck”) actually violates Facebook’s terms and can get your post removed or your page restricted. The only way to get shares is to create content worth sharing. Make it useful, interesting, or emotionally resonant.
What’s the best image size for Facebook posts that get shared?
– For link previews (og:image), use 1200×630 pixels. For image posts, 1200×628 pixels works well. These sizes display clearly on both desktop and mobile without distortion. Larger images sometimes get cropped, and smaller images look blurry. High-quality images also matter—blurry or low-res images tank shareability because people don’t want to share low-quality content.
How often should I post to maximize shareability?
– Quality over quantity. Posting once a day with highly shareable content beats posting five times a day with mediocre content. Most successful pages post 3-5 times per week. Consistency matters more than frequency. Pick a schedule you can stick to, and focus on making each post worth sharing.
Do Facebook ads increase shareability?
– Paid promotion increases visibility, which can lead to more shares, but it doesn’t guarantee shareability. An ad for mediocre content will just show more people mediocre content. Use ads to amplify content that’s already getting organic shares. That’s when you get real momentum.
What if my website doesn’t support Open Graph tags?
– If you’re using WordPress, install an SEO plugin like All in One SEO. If you’re on a custom platform or CMS, talk to your developer about adding og: tags to the <head> section. If it’s a static HTML site, you can add them manually. If it’s a third-party platform that doesn’t allow customization, use the Facebook Sharing Debugger to refresh the cache—sometimes the preview updates without code changes.
Can I make an old post shareable again?
– Partially. You can edit the text and change privacy settings, but the post’s organic reach is already determined by its age. If you want to revive an old post, reshare it as new content or create a similar post with updated information. The algorithm treats it as new, which gives it a fresh chance at visibility and shares.
Does video get shared more than images?
– Generally yes, video content gets 10x more engagement than images or text. But it depends on the content. A poorly made video gets fewer shares than a high-quality image. Focus on video quality and relevance rather than format alone. Short, vertical videos (under 60 seconds) perform best on mobile, where most Facebook users are.
